Multiple deck railway vehicle



Jan- 28, 1964 F. A. BELLINGHER 3,119,350

MULTIPLE DECK RAILWAY VEHICLE JITO EN 5;/

Jan. 28, 1964 F. A. BELLINGHER 3,119,350

' MULTIPLE DECK RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed June 7, 1961 4 sheetssheet 2 75V VENTO?? @E /FA z /NGHEE Jan- 28, 1964 F. A. BELLINGHER MULTIPLE DECK RAILWAY VEHICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June '7, 1961 Jan- 28, 1964 F. A. BELLINGHER 3,119,350

MULTIPLE DECK RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed June 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O 3,119,350 MULTELE DECK RAILWAY VEHICLE Fred A. Bellingher, Alsp, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed .lune 7, 1961, Ser. No. 115,422 4 Claims. (Cl. 10S-368) This invention relates to transport vehicles. More particularly, this invention relates to a railway vehicle having a multiple section and deck arrangement.

A prime object of this invention is to provide an improved transport car or vehicle having a plurality of sections or compartments and including a plurality of adjustable load-carrying decks.

A further object is to provide an improved railway ilatcar construction including readily adjustable decks adapted to be moved to a plurality of vertical positions so as to sectionalize the atcar into a number of compartments whereby a variety of different size loads may be carried.

A still more general object is to provide an improved railway atcar construction having a plurality of vertically positionable decks so that the atcar may be quickly adjusted to suit the bulk to be shipped by facilitating the division of the car into a plurality of compartments or sections.

A still further object is the provision of an improved flatcar construction ideally suited for transportation of vehicles of different shapes and sizes, the said car including readily adjustable decks adapted to be positioned at different heights and including a novel loading or elevating compartment at one end of the flatcar.

A more specic object of the invention is the provision of an improved sectionalized or compartmented ilatcar wherein the car may be divided into a plurality of separate sections, each having adjustable decks or iloors, the said tiatcar also being suitable in a lowered position of the adjustable decks to carry articles extending the length of the iiatcar and which do not require the splitting of the car into separate sections or compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple deck atcar assembly comprising a bottom deck, a rst deck, and a second deck, the latter two decks being adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the bottom deck and being adjustable with respect to each other.

A more specific object is the provision of an improved flatcar having a plurality of vertically adjustable loadcarrying decks, the atcar including novel provisions for supporting the adjustable load-carrying decks in raised positions and for maintaining the decks in a lowered position against longitudinal and lateral displacement relative to the bottom deck of the atcar.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the description when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view of a atcar embodying the novel arrangement of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan View of a pair of sections or compartments of the flatcar shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

3,119,350 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 ICC FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view through one side of a column structure showing portions of load-carrying decks taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a detail View taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 8 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the line 8 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of an elevating section or compartment taken substantially along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is aperspective detail view showing details of a licor and deck construction;

FIGURE 11 is a bottom view showing the underneath portion of a bottom deck or floor beneath an elevating section of a atcar; and

FIGURE l2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE l, a railway vehicle of the latcar type is generally designated by the reference character 1t). The llatcar 10 comprises a longitudinally extending body 11 having a bottom platform, floor, or deck designated at 12. The bottom oor or deck l2 is suitably supported on longitudinally extending transversely spaced frame members 13 suitably supported on railway wheel carriages generally designated at 14 and of conventional construction. The ilatcar 10 may be divided into a plurality of compartments or sections generally designated at 15 and has at one end an elevating compartment or section generally designatedl The bottom deck 12, as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 10, is provided with a plurality of U-shaped downwardly extending portions designated at 1,7 which include a plurality of transversely extending spacedV vertical Wall portions designated at 18. The Wall portions 18 divide the portion 17 into transversely extending recesses 19 and 20. As shown in FIGURE 8, one end of the floor 12 is also provided with a downwardly extending portion 21 having upwardly extending walls 22 providing transversely extending recesses 23 and 24. The opposite end of the ilatcar (though not shown) is also similarly provided with a transversely extending portion 21 including the transversely extending recesses 23 and 24. At transversely spaced opposed ends of the downwardly extending portions 17, there are provided upwardly extending columns 26. The columns 26, as best shown in FIGURE 1, divide the flatcar 10 into the compartments 15 which are in longitudinally contiguous relation and are joined at one end by the elevating section designated at 16. Each column 26 comprises an upright channel 27, best shown in FIGURE 5. Each channel 27 is provided with flanges 28 and 29 and contiguous flanges 30 to provide vertically extending slots 31, 32, 33, and 34. As best shown in FIGURE 7, the upper half of the columns 26 are formed only of the upwardly extending walls 29 and 30 providing continuations of the vertically extending slots 32 and 33. The recesses 19 and Ztl of the floor 12 are in transverse alignment with respect to the slots 31, 32, 33, and 34. In other words, the recesses 19 respectively are in alignment with slots 31 and 34 and the recesses are respectively in alignment wtih the slots 32 and 33. As best shown in FIGURES l and 7, the upright channels 27 are provided with vertically spaced holes designated at 35. Tie rods 36 suitably connect the columns 26 to reinforce the positioning of the same.

As best shown in FIGURES l, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 10, each section 15 is provided with first and second vertically movable load-carrying decks generally designated at 37 and 3S. Each load-carrying deck 37 and 38 comprises a Ipair of laterally spaced reticulated stee sections 39. Angle members 40 are suitably connected to opposite ends of the deck 37 Iand similar angle members 41 are connected to lopposite ends of the deck 33. As indicated in FIGURE 10, lthe angle members 49 are provided with downwardly extending legs 42 which are seated within the recesses 19. Similarly, the angle members 41 are provided with downwardly extending flanges 43 seated within the recesses 20. As indicated, the recesses 19 and 20 like the angle members 40 and 41 extend transversely across the flatcar. Y

As shown in FIGURE 8, the opposite ends of the flatcar oor 12 are provided with the transversely extending recesses 23 and 24. The downwardly extending flanges 42 of the deck 37 are seated within the recesses 24 and the downward-ly extending flange 43 of lthe deck 38 are seated within lthe recess 23.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, the angle members 41 extend laterally outwardly on opposite sides into the slots 32 :and 33 and each angle 41 has connected thereto perforated attaching plates 44. Similarly, the angle members 40 extend into `the slots 31 and 34 and have connected thereto perforated attaching plates 45. Suitable pins 46 extend through the holes 35 and through the perforated plates 44 and 45 for securing the decks in a plunality of vertical positions on the columns 26. 'Ille lowered position of the decks 37 and 23 is best shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. From these views, itis apparent that the decks 37 and 38 are retained against longitudinal displacement by virtue of the engagement of the flanges 42 and 43 with -the recesses 19 and 20. Thus the `decks are retained against longitudinal displacement and suitable material for shipment or trucks or other vehicles may he supported on the decks which are retained against such longitudinal displacement. While fthe slots 19 and 20 have been shown somewhat wider than the anges 42 and 43, which permits a limited amount of longitudinal movement, the sizes of the slots can be narrow to permit a much lesser longitudinal displacement if desired. Thus it can be seen that the decks 37 and 38 also can be easily raised to a desired vertical position to accommodate several vehicles or other materials by merely inserting the pins 46 at the desired height in the holes 35 so as to secure the ldecks in the manner shown in FIGURE 5. Thus in the raised position, the decks 37 and 38 are also firmly supported against longitudinal or lateral displacement and by merely removing the pins 46, the decks may be lowered as desired.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1, 9, and 12, the elevating station 10 is provided with Ifour box-type columns 47 disposed in rectangular relation as indicated. The columns 47 in each include an inner flange 48 and opposed sidewalls 49, and are provided with vertically extending open slots 50. The columns 47 may be suitably secured to the floor 12 by any conventional securing means. Each column 47 is provided at its upper end with a shaft 51 suitably rotatably supported on the walls 49. A sprocket 52 is mounted on each shaft 51 and a chain 53 is trained about each sprocket. The deck 37 within the section 16 has its angles 40 extending into the slots 56, each angle 40 having connected thereto at opposite ends perforated plates 54. The perforated plates 54 are suitably connected by means of fasteners 55 -to the chains 53 so that during movement of the chain 53 the deck 37 may be raised and lowered as desired within the section 16. The angles 41 of the deck 3S Within the section 16 also has at opposite ends thereof perforated connecting plates 56 which are adapted to be secured to the flanges 48 in a plurality of positions by means of pins 57 suitably extending through vertically spaced openings 35'. The openings 35 are positioned in the flanges 48 at the same locations -that the openings 35 are on the columns 26.

The chain 53, as best shown in FIGURES 9 and 1l, extends downwardly through openings 5S provided in the floor 12 of the fiatcar. The chains 53 are trained about sprockets S9 connected to rotate with transversely spaced and longitudinally extending shafts 60 suitably supported in bearing brackets 61 connected to the underneath surface of the bottom 12. 'Ihus rotation of the shafts 60 provides for rotation of the four spnockets 59 which in turn drives the chains 53 in turn rotating the sprockets 52 `for raising and lowering the deck 37. Bevel pinions 62 are connected to the ends of the shafts 60 and are driven by means of bevel pinions 63 connected for rotation to a shaft 64 in turn supported in bearing bracket 65 suitably connected :to the underneath surface of the bot- -tom 12. The shaft 64 is rotated by means of a gear 67 in turn meshing with another gear 68 driven by a transverse shaft 69 suitably supported and transversely spaced bearing bracket 7G connected to the underneath side of the floor 12. The end of the shaft 69 is provided with a recess or slot 71. This slot or recess 71 may receive a suitable crank arm `for effectuating manual operation of the gearing arrangement, or, it may receive a suitable drive shaft (not shown) from a suitable power driven unit (not shown).

FIGURE 1 shows the liatcar transporting trucks designated at '72. It is apparent from this view that several trucks may be positioned in one section 15 or a truck may extend through several sections 15. In other words, two small trucks may be transported in one section 15, or, as indicated, a small and a large truck may be divided between two sections.

Conceivably, if desired, all of the decks may be in a lowered position whereby the full length of the car is available for transporting such material as elongated pipes, logs, poles, etc. However, if it is desired to sectionalize the car 'into various compartments or sections 15, it is 'a simple matter to raise the decks and Ito secure them in position by means of the pins 46 shown in FIG- URE 5.

By the utilization of reticulated steel material for the sections 39 indicated, the decks 37 and 3S are light and one man can easily raise them into position and insert the pins 46 into the openings 45. In this position, the decks are securely fastened by virtue of the channel-shape of the columns with the vertically extending slots. Thus the decks may be vertically adjusted as desired, and each section can be divided itself into three definite sections, if so desired. Thus division of the car into sections and subsections is readily accomplished. In the raised position of the decks, they are firmly supported and retained against displacement and again lowered with a minimum of effort. In the lowered position of the decks, it is obvious that the decks are securely retained against longitudinal displacement by means of the recesses 19 and 20 provided in the floor 12. This, with the provision of the slotted columns, serves to provide a strong support for the decks in the lowered position. Also, the recessed portions permitV the decks to sit flat on top of one another in the lowered position, thereby minimizing the space required in this particular position.

The section 16, besides being utilized for carrying freight, is also utilized as an elevating or elevator-type compartment so that loading can be easily handled. Supposing now that it is desired to load any of the sections having raised decks in position, it is a simple matter to adjust the other decks of the other sections to the same vertical height and then to raise the deck 37 within the section 16 to the same height for shifting a load from the said section 16 to the other decks. This is accomplished by merely rotating the shaft 69 which imparts rotating movement to the gear 67 to the pinion 63 and to the shaft 6i), which in turn causes raising of the section 37. As the section 37 is raised, it carries with it freely the section 38 having seated thereon the load desired to be elevated. When the section 38 has been moved to the vertical height desired in registry with the deck 38 or 37 of an adjacent section, it is a simple matter to move the load carried thereon and to then again lower the section 37.

As indicated in FIGURE 1l, the shaft 64 may have a suitable braking means generally designated at 66 thereon which by means of a conventional brake can effectuate locking of, or prevent turning of, the shaft 64 if desired.

As indicated in FIGURE l2, it is also a simple matter to position the deck 33 within the section 16 at the particular height desired by simply inserting the pins 57 through the perforated plates 56 and openings 35 of the anges 4S so that the deck 38 can also be adjusted to any position desired.

Thus it is believed that an improved multi-deck fiatcar construction has been disclosed, which provides for a variety of load-carrying arrangements. The arrangement provides for maximum versatility with a minimum of effort and cost. Thus it is believed that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle comprising an elongated body, supporting wheels connected to said body, a longitudinally extending bottom deck supported on said body, a plurality of vertically extending columns mounted on said body in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of said deck and in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of said deck to divide the same into a plurality of longitudinally spaced contiguous load-carrying sections, each column including first and second vertically extending channels having first and second vertically extending slots facing inwardly toward the center of said deck, said deck including first and second transversely extending recesses respectively in alignment with said first and second slots, first and second decks positioned in superposed relation within said sections, each first and second deck comprising an elongated reticulated load-supporting platform, a transversely extending angle member connected to longitudinally spaced opposite ends of said platforms, the angle members of said first decks having first fianges engaging said first recesses, the angle members of said second decks having second fianges engaging said second recesses, whereby said decks are secured in a lowered position against longitudinal displacement, each of said first and second angle members including first and second securing members disposed at opposite ends of said angle members and projecting into said first and second slots whereby during a raised position of said decks said securing members and said first and second channels retain said decks against longitudinal and transverse displacement relative to said sections, and means cooperating with said channels and said securing members for retaining said decks in raised positions relative to each other and to said bottom deck.

2. A vehicle comprising an elongated body, supporting wheels connected to said body, a longitudinally extending bottom deck supported on said body, a plurality of vertically extending columns mounted on said body in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of said deck and in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of said deck to divide the same into a plurality of longitudinally spaced contiguous load-carrying sections, each column including first and second vertically extending channels having first and second vertically extending slots facing inwardly toward the center of said deck, said deck including first and second transversely extending recesses respectively in alignment with said first and second slots, first and second decks positioned in superposed relation within said sections, each first and second deck comprising -an elongated load-supporting platform, a transversely extending support member connected to longitudinally spaced opposite ends of said platform, the support members of said first decks having rst portions engaging said first recesses, the support members of said second decks having second portions engaging said second recesses, whereby said decks are secure-d in a lowered position against longitudinal displacement, each of said first `and second support members including first and second securing members disposed a-t opposite ends of said support members and projecting into said first and second slots whereby during a raised position of said decks said securing members and said first and second channels retain said decks against longitudinal -and tnansverse displacement relative to said sections, and means cooperating with said channels and said securing members for retaining said decks in raised positions relative to each other and to said bottom deck.

3. A vehicle comprising an elongated body, supporting wheels connected to said body, a longitudinally extending bottom deck supported on said body, a plurality of vertically extending columns mounted on said body in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of said deck and in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of said deck to divide the same into ya plurality of longitudinally spaced contiguous load-carrying sections, each column includi-ng first and second vertically extending channels having first and second vertically extending slots facing inwardly toward the center of saidvdeck, said deck including first Aand second transversely extending recesses respectively in alignment with said first and second slots, first and second decks positioned in superposed relation within said sections, each first and second deck comprising an elongated load-supporting platform, a transversely extending support member connected to longitudinally spaced opposite ends of said platforms, the support members of said first decks having first portions engaging said first recesses, the support members of said second decks having second portions engaging said second recesses, whereby said decks are secured in a lowered position against longitudinal displacement, each of said first and second support members including first and second securing members disposed at opposite ends of said support members and projecting into said first iand second slots whereby during a raised position of said decks said securing members a-nd said first and second channels retain said decks against longitudinal and transverse displacement relative to said sections, and quick detachable securing means on said channels engaging said securing members whereby said first and second decks may be supported in a plurality of raised positions relative to each other and to said first deck.

4. A vehicle comprising an elongated body including a longitudinally extending bottom deck, a plurality of vertically extending columns supported on said body in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of said bottom deck and in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of said deck to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced contiguous load-carrying sections, each column including first and second vertically extending slo-ts facing inwardly with respect Ito the center of `said deck, said bottom deck including at opposite ends of each section first and second transversely extending recesses substantially in alignment respectively with said first and second slots, first and second load-carrying decks in each section, said first and second decks being adapted in a first lowered position to rest upon said bottom `dec-k in superposed position, said first and second decks including first and second means at longitudinally spaced ends o-f said first and second decks. engaging respectively said first and second recesses in the lowered position, and first and second securing members projecting laterally outwardly from said first and 7 second deeks and slidably engaging said first and second slots whereby said rst and second decks may be moved to raised positions, and means on said columns engaging said first .and second decks for supporting them in said raised posi-tions. 5

References Cited n the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bayless Aug. 27, 1901 o J Youngblood June 12, 1917 Linquist et a1 Nov. 20, 1917 Dem'arest Feb. 7, 1939 Bryan Apr. 13, 1943 I-aneczko July 24, 1951 Steins et a1. Nov. 17, 1953 Parker et a1 Nov. 8, 1960 Short Feb. 7, 1961 

4. A VEHICLE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BOTTOM DECK, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING COLUMNS SUPPORTED ON SAID BODY IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM DECK AND IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID DECK TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED CONTIGUOUS LOAD-CARRYING SECTIONS, EACH COLUMN INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOTS FACING INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTER OF SAID DECK, SAID BOTTOM DECK INCLUDING AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH SECTION FIRST AND SECOND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING RECESSES SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS, FIRST AND SECOND LOAD-CARRYING DECKS IN EACH SECTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS BEING ADAPTED IN A FIRST LOWERED POSITION TO REST UPON SAID BOTTOM DECK IN SUPERPOSED POSITION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND MEANS AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS, ENGAGING RESPECTIVELY SAID FIRST AND SECOND RECESSES IN THE LOWERED POSITION, AND FIRST AND SECOND SECURING MEMBERS PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS WHEREBY SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS MAY BE MOVED TO RAISED POSITIONS, AND MEANS ON SAID COLUMNS ENGAGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND DECKS FOR SUPPORTING THEM IN SAID RAISED POSITIONS. 